ANCHORAGE (AP) — Community activists are pushing for more detox beds in Anchorage, where only 14 are available in a city of 300,000.
The Alaska Dispatch News and Alaska Public Media report a coalition of Anchorage congregations are hosting a town hall Monday in East Anchorage to discuss potential solutions.
The Anchorage Faith & Action Congregations Together town hall is the second in a year and follows a series of meetings with politicians, state officials and providers of social services.
Experts say detox beds provide patients with medical supervision while they undergo what can be painful recovery from long-term alcohol or drug use. Only nurses can initially assess patients, which service providers say is costly and slows down the process.
St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Anchorage is hosting the 7 p.m. town hall.
